Israel Reveals: Over 40% of West Bank Vegetables Cause Cancer and Other Diseases

SadaNews Economy Translation - The Health Committee in the Israeli Knesset revealed, during its discussion on the scope of contaminated agricultural products coming from Palestinian Authority areas, that nearly half of the vegetables imported from there pose a health risk.

This amount of products is around 15,000 tons annually, as mentioned in the committee and reported by Ma'ariv, translated by SadaNews Economy section.

The committee chair who opened the discussion, Lemor Son Har Melikh, from the "Jewish Power" party led by Itamar Ben Gvir, stated that no agricultural products from the Palestinian Authority territories should be allowed for import.

She added at the beginning of the discussion: "I do not trust the produce that may easily be contaminated... I urge everyone who can: make sure to buy Israeli agricultural products... We have excellent farmers, amazing products, fresh and healthy, and most importantly, more Zionist."

She claimed that the recorded data paints a picture of a blatant violation of health law, alleging that goods coming from the Palestinian Authority are contaminated with pesticide residues at very high levels.

She pointed to warnings from the Israeli Ministry of Health that exposure to these pollutants may cause serious diseases, including cancer and liver and kidney damage, as well as severe harm to the growth of children, infants, and fetuses.

She noted that procedures stipulate that goods must be suspended in warehouses until laboratory test results are obtained, yet these products are actually distributed immediately to markets. By the time alarming results arrive a few days later, thousands of tons of contaminated goods have already reached the tables of Israeli citizens, with the reason for not suspending the marketing of goods being the civil administration's position, which preferred to avoid harming the shelf life of the goods and the Palestinian economy over protecting public health in Israel, as she claimed.

According to Israeli organizations, agricultural products transported to Israel from the Palestinian Authority are contaminated with pesticide residues at extremely high levels, as translated by SadaNews Economy section.

A report from the so-called "State Auditor" of Israel, published about a year and a half ago, indicated that the percentage of samples showing the presence of abnormal pesticide residues ranged between 27% and 40% during the period from 2015 to 2022, with a steady increase over the years.

According to those organizations, samples taken at border crossings are sent to the laboratory for analysis, and results are issued within a few days; however, products are distributed immediately, even before the analysis results are released, and thus, thousands of tons of products that were identified with these pollutants are practically on the market.

Israeli Health Ministry representative Ziva Hama confirmed that 50% of cucumbers imported from Palestinian Authority territories are contaminated, 49% of tomatoes, and 66% of hot peppers. More than five different types of pesticides were found in 13% of the products, and 14% of the samples contained toxic organophosphates that pose a risk to fetal growth and cause congenital malformations in infants and children.

She confirmed that two field tests would start soon, that the list of approved farmers would be managed electronically, and that additional sampling would be conducted at checkpoints regularly, with financial penalties imposed on violators of the regulations.